Hampshire Scouts

What Hampshire Scouts does

Hampshire Scouts is a registered UK charity (Charity No. 1015788) and constituent county of The Scout Association, headquartered in Brockenhurst, Hampshire. The organisation delivers the UK Scout programme through six age-graded sections spanning young people aged 4-25, with weekly activities delivered by hundreds of volunteer leaders across local communities in Hampshire. Core operations include the Squirrels section (4-5 year olds, launched 2021), Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Explorer Scouts, and the Scout Network, with a refreshed Explorer Scout Programme scheduled for launch in June 2026.

The organisation runs Ferny Crofts Activity Centre as a residential and outdoor-activity facility supporting its own members and external user groups. International experiences are coordinated through Project 27 and participation in the World Scout Jamboree 2027. The published Hampshire Scouts Strategy to 2035 sets the long-term direction for participation growth, volunteer development, and programme quality, and the county received the King's Award for Voluntary Service in 2026 in recognition of its volunteer-led youth provision.

The business model is charitable rather than commercial. Income is generated through modest membership subscriptions paid by participating families, donations from individuals and supporters, grants from charitable trusts and statutory bodies, and trading income from the Ferny Crofts Activity Centre facility hire. The organisation employs approximately 11 paid staff, with the operational delivery model reliant on volunteer leaders who are not compensated. Reach is substantial at over 18,900 young people participating weekly across the county, but reportable waiting lists indicate demand continues to exceed current volunteer capacity.

Name

Hampshire Scouts

Legal name

Hampshire County Scout Council

Website

https://hampshirescouts.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hampshire Scouts is a registered UK charity delivering the Scout programme to over 18,900 young people aged 4-25 weekly across Hampshire, through six age-graded sections led by hundreds of volunteer leaders and supported by Ferny Crofts Activity Centre.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA), Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps) (THAGAOAG)

Keywords

• Youth development charity
• Scouting programmes
• Volunteer-led activities
• Outdoor adventure services
• Adult volunteer training

Headquarters

HQ city

Brockenhurst

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Membership and Donations: As a registered charity (No. 1015788), Hampshire Scouts operates primarily through membership contributions and charitable donations. The organization receives support through grants and fundraising activities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hampshire Scouts delivers a structured, age-tiered youth development programme through six sections (Squirrels 4-5, Beavers 6-8, Cubs 8-10.5, Scouts 10.5-14, Explorers 14-18, Network 18-25), with weekly meetings led by trained volunteers and supported by badge schemes, Duke of Edinburgh's Award pathways, and outdoor/adventure activities. The county also runs the Ferny Crofts Activity Centre, adult volunteer training (Wood Badge, First Response), heritage preservation, and international expeditions including the World Scout Jamboree and Project 27 USA.

Product overview

Hampshire Scouts operates a youth development charity offering structured scouting programmes across six age-appropriate sections (Squirrels 4-5, Beavers 6-8, Cubs 8-10.5, Scouts 10.5-14, Explorers 14-18, Network 18-25). The core offering consists of weekly section meetings with badge work, outdoor activities, and residential experiences. Supporting services include Ferny Crofts Activity Centre for adventure activities, adult volunteer training programmes (Wood Badge, First Response), award schemes (Duke of Edinburgh's Award/King's Scout Award), international expeditions (Project 27, World Scout Jamboree), and Hampshire Scout Heritage preservation. The organisation also provides a members portal for volunteers and coordinates county-wide events. This is a programme-based service rather than a technology product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ferny Crofts: Scout Activity Centre operated by Hampshire Scouts in Brockenhurst, offering outdoor activities and training facilities.

Products and services

• Squirrels Section Entry-level scouting section for young people aged 4-5 years old, delivered through Dreys with red jumpers. Focuses on fun, getting outdoors, making friends, earning activity badges, and the Chief Scout's Acorn Award.
• Beavers Section Scouting section for young people aged 6-8 years old providing a foundation scouting experience with age-appropriate activities and badge work.
• Cubs Section Scouting section for young people aged 8-10.5 years old building on the Beavers experience with more challenging activities and early leadership opportunities.
• Scouts Section Central scouting section for young people aged 10.5-14 years old offering a wide range of adventurous activities and skill development.
• Explorers Section Scouting section for young people aged 14-18 years old, redesigned in 2026 around wellbeing, skills and adventure with new badge pathways and challenge awards.
• Network Section Scouting section for young people aged 18-25 providing continued engagement with flexible programme options for young adults.
• Ferny Crofts Activity Centre County-run scout activity centre in Brockenhurst, New Forest providing outdoor and adventure activities including camping, water sports and skills training, also co-located with the County Office and Heritage Centre.
• Duke of Edinburgh's Award and King's Scout Award Top award programmes available to Explorers and Network members with Bronze, Silver and Gold tiers requiring volunteering, physical, skill and residential sections; delivered in partnership with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
• World Scout Jamboree Participation Hampshire contingent participation in the World Scout Jamboree, with the next event scheduled for Gdansk, Poland in Summer 2027.
• Project 27 USA Expedition Three-week alternative expedition to the World Scout Jamboree for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Scouts, traveling 1,100 miles by coach from Atlanta to Boston via Blue Ridge Mountains, Washington DC and Boston.
• Adult Learning and Training Training programmes for adult volunteers including Wood Badge modules, First Response first aid training, skills weekends and residential module weekends covering leadership, practical skills and section-specific training.
• Hampshire Scout Heritage Support team recording, preserving and bringing to life the story of Scouting's past in Hampshire, organising Heritage Fest events and maintaining the Heritage Centre at Ferny Crofts.
• Young Leaders Programme Programme for 14-18 year olds to develop leadership skills while supporting younger sections, including annual Young Leader Rally events and leadership training weekends.

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Scouts (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHampshire Scouts is a county-level branch of the UK Scout Association, operating under the national organization's governance, programme framework, and membership systems including Compass.
• Ferny Crofts (Activity Centre)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFerny Crofts Scout Activity Centre is co-located with the Hampshire Scouts County Office at Beaulieu Road, Brockenhurst, providing adventure activities including camping, outdoor pursuits, and training facilities.
• Hampshire County CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHampshire County Council offers residential opportunities for Duke of Edinburgh's Award participants including conservation, rangers, wellness, zoo keeper and introduction to medicine programmes.
• Outward BoundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHampshire & IOW Outward Bound offers residential adventures from £180 for 5-day 'Ridge' to £430 for 19-day 'Pinnacle' programmes, qualifying for DofE residential section.
• Duke of Edinburgh's AwardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver Duke of Edinburgh's Award through Scouting with residential opportunities, expeditions, and Gold Award recognition.
• RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRNLI provides water safety education resources, Float to Live campaign materials, and educational programmes to support Scouting water safety training.
• RLSS (Royal Life Saving Society UK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRLSS provides Water Safety Code guidance, teenager safety resources, and free education materials for youth groups on water safety.
• British Mountaineering CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMC provides list of mountaineering grants to support outdoor expeditions and adventurous activities for young people in Scouting.
• World Organization of the Scout MovementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHampshire Scouts is part of a worldwide movement of around 50 million scouts in nearly every country, enabling international exchanges and expeditions.
• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Combined World Scout JamboreeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCombined programme for World Scout Jamboree 2027 in Gdansk, Poland, with Project 27 alternative USA expedition for those unable to attend WSJ.
• Project 27 (USA Expedition)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlternative expedition to the World Scout Jamboree - a 3-week expedition to USA traveling 1,100 miles by coach from Atlanta to Boston with visits to Blue Ridge Mountains, Washington DC and Boston.
• Scouts Against MalariaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership raising awareness about malaria prevention through Scout networks, with funds supporting bed net purchases in Ghana, Uganda and Malawi.
• English HeritageminorStrategic or Co-development Partner4th Gosport Scout Group meets at Fort Brockhurst, a 19th century scheduled monument run by English Heritage, when closed to the public.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Girlguiding UK: UK's largest girl-only youth organization providing structured weekly activities, badges, and outdoor programmes for ages 5-18. Most directly comparable peer offering parallel youth-development infrastructure and community-led volunteer model.
• Surrey Scouts: Adjacent UK county-level Scout council delivering the same programme structure, badge systems, and community-led volunteer model. Most operationally comparable peer as a county-level entity within the same national Scout Association governance structure.
• Woodcraft Folk: UK youth charity running groups for children and young people aged 0-25 with a focus on cooperative, outdoor activities and social justice education - similar age range, volunteer-led community model, and badge-style progression.
• Sea Cadets: UK youth charity for 10-18 year olds offering nautical training, water sports, and life skills through a network of local units. Comparable community-led volunteer model, age-segmented programme, and badge/award progression.
• Army Cadets (ACF): UK volunteer youth organization for 12-18 year olds offering adventurous activities, military-themed training, and community engagement. Comparable structure of local detachments, volunteer-led delivery, and structured progression.
• St John Ambulance Cadets: UK youth programme for 10-17 year olds offering first aid, leadership, and community service activities through local divisions. Similar volunteer-supervised delivery model and structured skill-progression framework.
• Volunteer Police Cadets: UK volunteer youth programme for 13-18 year olds delivered through local police partnerships, offering structured activities, leadership training, and community engagement - comparable volunteer-led local unit structure.

Broad incumbents

• The Scout Association: The UK national Scout organization that Hampshire Scouts operates under. Directly comparable as the parent governing body delivering the same Scouting programme, awards, and badge systems across all UK counties.

Emerging players

• Outward Bound Trust: UK charity offering residential outdoor adventure and personal development programmes for young people aged 11-19. Hampshire Scouts explicitly partners with Outward Bound for residential DofE opportunities, making it a closely adjacent comparable.
• The Duke of Edinburgh's Award: UK youth achievement award programme for 14-24 year olds that Hampshire Scouts actively delivers. Strongly comparable as a volunteer-supervised, badge-progression, life-skills framework that Hampshire Scouts uses to deliver its Explorer/Network sections.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/377727685941104
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scouts-in-hampshire

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hampshire Scouts